Background:

These beautiful prints date from the early years of Curtis's Botanical Magazine.   The Botanical Magazine is one of the oldest - and longest published - of the British horticultural magazines (1787-1983). 

Founded by William Curtis, management and editorship of the Magazine was taken over by John Sims in 1799 upon the death of Curtis.

All of the prints featured here were illustrated by Sydenham Edwards, one of the original artists working for Curtis.   Edwards left Curtis in 1811 to found another botanical magazine, The Botanical Register.

These prints are noted for their detail and exquisite hand coloring.